Michael Malone - Weebly

egarding Joy, Luke had asked the question. But Polly
was pained by an immediate assumption that Luke had
accepted her invitation only in order to be with Joy. She
didn't realize why she was pained, she just felt it.
Brushing past cobwebs that stuck to her hands, she
shoved quickly through the low, leaf-heavy branches
until Luke fell behind.
She fantasized the three of them hiking in the
dimness of the woods, Luke and Joy hurrying ahead of
her, leaving her behind. She imagined coming upon
them crouched at the base of a tree. She imagined them
kissing and looking up at her. She thought of Sidney
Blossom and Kate Ransom. She saw Limus Barnum's
eyes, coming toward her, forcing her to share the
knowledge that he had written the horrible letter. She
began to run along the path; the compass hung around
her neck kept knocking against her chest.
Seeing her running, Luke, excited, ran after her until
he caught her by the arm. They both stopped, suddenly.
He let go. Muttering, "Not much of a path, is it?" he
unsnagged his pants leg from brambles, then held up a
branch of briars for her to walk under. She had to pass